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British metal stalwarts Judas Priest have an eventful few months ahead: The band recently announced a farewell tour and have welcomed a new guitarist, Richie Faulkner, to replace the recently retired KK Downing.

“It’s not exactly the end of the band, it’s just the fact that we won’t really be doing any more world tours,” guitarist Glenn Tipton tells Rolling Stone. “It takes a big chunk out of your life. We’ve been doing it for 40 years now or close to it, and we all love that moment on stage, but it’s difficult to be away from home and all the traveling involved. Now, if somebody came along and said, ‘Would you do a small string of dates,’ we wouldn’t automatically say no to that. But in general, this is probably the last chance you’ll get to see Priest live.”

On this tour – dubbed the Epitaph Tour – Priest will be working in new guitarist Faulkner, who sees his playing style as similar to his predecessor’s. “My take on KK’s playing was he improvised quite a lot live,” says Faulkner. “It was kind of a basic framework around the solo that was on the record, and then he would go off a bit on that. So my style is kind of the same as that – I normally take what’s in the solo and just play around with it a bit. But it keeps the essence of the solo there.”

Priest singer Rob Halford also revealed that the group has also been working on all-new material. “We do have some completed tracks that we’ve been talking about in the last few days, as to how we can feed those out to our fans,” he says. “We wanted to make at least one more great metal album that really represents all the wonderful things we’ve tried to do. If things go as planned, we want to get this out by the summer of next year.”

But the first order of business will be the upcoming tour, which as of now kicks off October 12th in San Antonio and wraps up November 18th in East Rutherford, New Jersey (though more dates should be announced soon), with support acts Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society. “We’re doing a track off every album,” says Tipton, rattling off songs the band is planning on performing – from tracks like “Never Satisfied” (which Tipton says the band has never played before) to classics like “Hell Bent for Leather” and “Electric Eye.”

And the band plans to go out in what can only be termed a blaze of glory. “We’re pulling out all the stops,” says Halford. “We’ve built a brand new stage set, we’ve got all the effects that people love us for – the lasers, the fire, the bombs, the smoke, new costumes, and the bike. It’s just a full-on metal extravaganza.”

Pop Evil will be releasing their new record ‘War of Angels‘ on June 28th via eOne Music. Free downloads of the track “Save the World” and an acoustic version of the single “Last Man Standing” are available on Facebook.

L.A. Hard Rockers DC4 are all pumped up for the release of their latest ass-kicking record Electric Ministry! Electric Ministry will be released on CD via Metal Blade Records in Europe on July, 29 (G/A/S), August, 1 (rest of Europe)!

“Welcome to the alter of conviction” snarls DC4 frontman and guitarist Jeff Duncan as the band launches into the title track from their fourth release, Electric Ministry. Tackling subjects such as being on the wrong side of Johnny Law (“25 To Life”), the ultimate male specimen (“Rock God”) and the pleasures of the flesh (“XXX”) the quartet blast through eleven tracks on the opus produded by Bill Metoyer and co-produced by Jeff Duncan.

Metoyer, who has worked with the likes of Armored Saint, Fates Warning, WASP and Slayer amongst countless other bands, is basically a member of the DC4 family. “I first met Bill when he engineered Armored Saint’s ‘Revelation’ album,” says Jeff. “Before long he started showing up at DC4 shows, checking us out. And he kept showing up more and more, it kind of became more than just showing up to see your friend play, ya know? So, we started talking and when the opportunity came up for us to work together he just jumped on board.”

“We made a point of making Electric Ministry a real guitar album. Back to our roots as guitarists.” says Rowan Robertson. “I think on our last album ‘Explode’ we still had a bit of that 90’s feel in us so we’ve gotten rid of that now.”

“This was the first time we had any special guests appear on a DC4 album,” relates, Jeff. “We had Dizzy Reed from Guns N Roses provide keys on the songs “Dirty Hands” and “The Ballad Of Rock and Roll”, Gonzo from Armored Saint played percussion on several tracks, also. Then we had our cousin, Erin Duncan, do backing vocals on ‘The Ballad Of Rock’n’Roll’ and Juliette Primrose (Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance) played violin on “The Ballad Of Rock and Roll” as well.”

Forming as the 21st Century became a reality DC4 came to be when Jeff Duncan met Rowan Robertson, the band’s musical pedigree is virtually unrivaled by their peers. “Jeff and I met when a local promoter named Happenin’ Harry asked us both to be in his backing back for a few shows in the LA area and in Chicago,” relates Robertson. “When we got back to LA he just flat out asked if I wanted to join DC4 and we got along so well and played so great together that I just had to do it.”

Jeff recalls that “I wasn’t into the whole idea of auditioning guitarists, We would know the right one when he came long and that’s exactly what happened. He was looking for the sort of situation we had to offer and as it turned out, we were looking for him!”

Having spent time in such bands as the legendary Dio, metal heroes Armored Saint, the short lived Violet’s Demise and Odin, a band who had reached cult status by the end of the 1980’s without ever leaving Hollywood, DC4 is much more than just your average hard rock act.

BITCH to release’Be My Slave/Damnation Alley’ remastered Reissue including bonus-dvd with rare live footage on July 1st/4th! Video trailer available!

On July 1st (G/A/S) / July 4th (Europe) Metal Blade Records will release a CD+DVD package by the first female fronted Heavy Metal Band in the World, the infamous BITCH!

The CD includes the Be My Slave album and the Damnation Alley mini-LP! Both being remastered sounding better than ever. There will be an exclusive bonus track on the CD, Let’s Go, which has never been released before!
Check out the video trailer for this release at Facebook (no login necessary) or youtube!

The bonus-DVD includes ancient footage from the early and mid 80s. All sorts of live clips recorded at various American shows. The DVD also includes the entire show BITCH just played in April this year at the prestigious Keep It True festival in Germany. Filmed with multiple cameras BITCH gave the Keep It True the whip and delivered nothing but a killer show featuring all the greatest hits of the rich BITCH history!about BITCH:
One of the earliest of the 80’s Heavy Metal club bands to gain national media exposure, BITCH was formed in 1981 and quickly gained a large local following. They generated notoriety (in part) as a result of their live performances which included sadomasochism and bondage themes. They were also the first artists signed to Metal Blade Records and one of the first ever heavy metal bands to have a female lead singer, Betsy “Bitch” (Weiss). No stranger to making history, BITCH was also exposed to the national media during the Parents Music Resource Center (P.M.R.C.) hearings in the US Congress. Shortly after the band was formed, they met Brian Slagel who had recently formed Metal Blade Records, and was a friend of BITCH guitarist David Carruth. The original quartet included vocalist Betsy Weiss, guitarist Carruth, Mark Anthony Webb on bass and drummer Robby Settles. They signed for the label and released a self-financed EP entitled Damnation Alley (1982). During their early days, BITCH played a lot of gigs with other metal groups such as W.A.S.P., Slayer and Armored Saint.

The following year, the group released their first full length album, Be My Slave. During the tour of the album, BITCH developed their controversial and elaborate stage shows; these included sadmasochistic elements: clothing with chains and whips, bondage acts with a ‘slave’ on stage.

Help Is On The Way! Rise Against are donating 50 T-shirts to the Los Angeles Youth Network in your name. Winners will have a t-shirt donated in their name, and will also receive a signed copy of Endgame and a t-shirt for themselves.

Here’s how to enter:
• Fill in your info in the form box below.
• In the “Help Is On The Way” box leave a couple sentences on how you participate in your community, charity, etc. in order to complete your entry.
• Rise Against will pick the 50 best entries.

Rise Against‘s new album Endgame is out now. The band will be playing with Rage Against the Machine and Muse at L.A. Rising on July 30th and will be touring with Foo Fighters in September. To see where the tour stops near you, visit www.RiseAgainst.com for dates and more news on the band.

Band to Hit the Road for European Tour in June; Mastodon’s Version of ZZ Top Classic Featured on “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon” Soundtrack

Heavy rock innovators MASTODON are currently in the studio recording the follow-up to their ground-breaking concept album “Crack The Skye,“one of the most critically lauded albums of the past decade:

“Mastodon are the greatest metal band of their generation — no one else comes close.” — Rolling Stone Magazine

“Unpredictable, intelligent metal.” — Spin Magazine

“Thunderous, disciplined and expansive…the ambition and tenacity of Mastodon’s music makes ‘Crack The Skye’ sonically unforgettable.” – Time Magazine

The band is currently recording at Doppler Studios in their hometown of Atlanta with producer Mike Elizondo. Drum tracks have been previously completed in Los Angeles at the legendary Sound City Studios where Nirvana’s masterwork “Nevermind” was recorded.

Mastodon can also now confirm a pair of new songs — “Blasteroids,” and “All The Heavy Lifting” will be featured on the new disc which will be release later this year.

As with all of their albums, Mastodon, which is bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Keliher, and drummer Brann Dailor, will take a different tack and musical approach to the music on this outing. Check www.mastodonrocks.com for studio updates.

Immediately following their current recording sessions in Atlanta, Mastodon will head to Europe for a summer-long tour that includes all dates on this year’s Sonisphere Festival as well as the Rock Im Park, Rock Am Ring, Roskilde Festivals and more. The band will also play a one-off show at The Gorge in Seattle on July 30th with Soundgarden, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Meat Puppets. All of Mastodon‘s upcoming tour dates are below.

06/04

Rock Im Park

Nurnberg, GER

06/05

Rock Am Ring

Nuremburgring, GER

06/06

Gurensoan

Hamburg, GER*

06/07

FZM

Dortmund, GER*

06/08

Die Rohre

Stuttgart, GER*

06/10

Sonisphere Festival

Warsaw, POL

06/11

Sonisphere Festival

Prague, CZE

06/12

Norwegian Wood

Oslo, NOR

06/13

Grieghallen

Bergen, NOR

06/17

Sonisphere Festival

Athens, GRE

06/19

Sonisphere Festival

Istanbul, TUR

06/21

Sonisphere Festival

Sofia, BUL

06/22

INmusic Festival

Zagreb, CRO

06/24

Sonisphere Festival

Basel, SWI

06/25

Sonisphere Festival

San Marino, ITA

06/26

Graspop

Dessel, BEL

06/28

Patronaat

Haarlem, HOL

06/29

Metropol

Hengelo, HOL

07/01

Roskilde Festival

Roskilde, DEN

07/02

Sonisphere Festival

Helsinki, FIN

07/03

Glav Club

St. Petersburg, RUS*

07/04

Arena Moscow

Moscow, RUS*

07/06

Colos-Saal

Aschaffenburg, GER*

07/08

Sonisphere Festival

Amneville, FRA

07/09

Sonisphere Festival

Stockholm, SWE

07/10

Sonisphere Festival

Knebworth, UK

07/12

C-Club

Berlin, GER*

07/13

Metalcamp Festival

Tolmin, SLO

07/14

Hegyalja Festival

Tokaj, HUN

07/16

Sonisphere Festival

Madrid, SPN

07/30

The Gorge

Seattle, WA

*denotes headlining show

Lastly Mastodon has just confirmed that their version of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid” will be included on the original soundtrack for “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon” soundtrack. This sought-after Mastodon rarity has only been available as a limited edition color vinyl 7″ single released this past Record Store Day. The album will be release on June 14th.

Carmine Appice – An undisputed Rock legend is Carmine Appice. With a Rock and Roll resume that screams “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction NOW!”, Carmine never once spoke of acceptance into any clique or popular circles. That’s because Carmine Appice knows his accomplishments and knows he belongs with his countless fans. Carmine is not just a legendary Rock drummer, he is also an accomplished teacher of drumming and unquestionably his profession’s biggest advocate spanning six decades.

To appreciate the works of Carmine Appice is to also appreciate Rock Music history. Carmine has played and written for Rod Stewart, while founding such Classic Rock icons as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert and Appice. His drumming can also be heard on albums from Ted Nugent and Paul Stanley to Pink Floyd’s “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason”. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of this famed drummers accomplishments. With two of Carmine’s biggest 80’s bands being King Kobra and Blue Murder, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fans alike gravitate to Carmine Appice with a justifiable reverence.

2011 has ushered in the reunion of King Kobra, with their newly released and self-titled album on Frontiers Records. This King Kobra reunion album shakes loose everything we all adore about 80’s Melodic Hard Rock… King Kobra style. With new vocalist Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt, Bad Boyz, Quiet Riot) surrounded by the original King Kobra lineup, there could not be a better time than now to celebrate this bands everlasting Hard Rock appeal. Carmine took the time recently to talk to Hard Rock Hideout about the reunion of King Kobra and their new album. As I anticipated, Carmine wasn’t just a receptive interview, he was a downright good guy. Here is what Carmine had to say:

HRH: King Kobra in 2011, does it feel like the first time or old hat with the band?

CARMINE: It’s a little of both. We have a new energy from Paul (Shortino). He adds a bluesier sound to the band. Some songs we wrote back in ’84 and the first meeting with Dave (Henzerling) and I was writing all our takes from ’84 down. Me and Dave initially were part of the heavy writing on the first two King Kobra albums. My drums and Dave’s guitar are the core of King Kobra’s sound and we captured that sound once again, blending everything else together nicely.

HRH: This album is a great listen Carmine, it does take me back.

CARMINE: Thank you. I was very surprised it came out so good! We were never all together in studio to record this album. This King Kobra album was an international undertaking. Me and Paul were together and Dave was in Phoenix. It was all put together and mixed in Germany by Mike Ross. The track we used to get Mike Ross on line in Germany was “Monsters And Heroes”, a tribute song (about) Ronnie James Dio. All the royalties from this song go directly to the Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund.

HRH: A fine job you guys did with that Carmine.

HRH: How did Paul Shortino land with King Kobra?

CARMINE: Our first press release was back in December of 2009, when the idea to do this reunion and album came about. It was my saying hey look, let’s get together and let’s do a record. It all took time because we all live in different cities you know?

HRH: What event or series of events triggered the reunion of King Kobra after the initial idea?

CARMINE: It was never a planned thing or anything like that, it just happened one day. David (Henzerling) by trade is a computer programmer. He was coming out to L.A. to Edwards Air Force Base to program jet fighters. Dave and I were together one day when Pat Regan called and said he would be in town mixing a new album for KEEL, so we went down and said hello to the guys. Pat told me Frontiers Records is signing a bunch of 80’s bands right now. Pat said “why don’t you guys do an album?” I’ve had a bit of a run-in with Marcie Free, so I called Paul (Shortino) because I’ve worked with him before, plus he’s a great person and has a great voice. Of course, when I called Paul and asked him he said “yeah, I’d love to do it”. So, me, Dave, Paul and Mick (Sweda) were up for it. Johnny Rod has always been asking me when we were going to get King Kobra back together, so he was in for sure.

HRH: That’s really cool how it all came back together.

CARMINE: It is. Do you remember Paul played Duke Fame in Spinal Tap? (laughs)

HRH: Man, Carmine, I forgot about that! (laughs)

HRH: King Kobra captures all good things about Melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Is this a sound that is missing from young bands today?

CARMINE: I think this album to me, is more of a Hard Rock album than anything else. The words “Heavy Metal” describes a certain era. Heavy Metal is more of the dark side of stuff. I consider King Kobra a Hard Rock band. This is a really good Hard Rock record. Blue Murder I’d consider as a Heavy Metal band. Some of the songs on “Beck, Bogert & Appice” are heavy. When Y&T came out, they were a Rock band, then everyone began to call them a Heavy Metal band in the 80’s.

HRH: That’s a good point there about Y&T.

CARMINE: Look back on the song “Hot Legs” with Rod Stewart, now that was some good Hard Rock! When I hear a cool new song on the radio now, from a new band, they never announce the band! That drives me crazy!

HRH: I know what you mean Carmine, we’re supposed to figure it out ourselves!

HRH: Would you ever consider reuniting Blue Murder for a new album or one-off show?

CARMINE: Since 2000, I’ve wanted to do another Blue Murder album. I want to do an album and a tour with Blue Murder, the only thing stopping it is John Sykes. To do an album with John Sykes would take forever, he is a real perfectionist. The longer we wait, the further and further away we get from when the last album was released. The real money is made with touring. Right now with the economy, there is really no market for an album like Blue Murder.

HRH: Any tour plans for King Kobra?

CARMINE: King Kobra used to play arenas. Now, all us bands are playing clubs. Dave (Henzerling) is too busy with his regular job to tour with King Kobra. I don’t want to lose money either. If we go play and lose money, it makes no sense to me. Big acts have to package up with other big acts today. Rod Stewart is packaged up with Stevie Nicks. Now Rod Stewart is packaged! We never saw Rod Stewart packaged up!

HRH: It’s the sign of the times, Carmine.

CARMINE: Doing gigs with Cactus, Slamm!! and clinics is the playing live side of my career. I will be doing gigs during the Summer with Vanilla Fudge.

HRH: That’s pretty cool stuff to be involved with!

CARMINE: It’s very hard to get out and play right now because the economy is bad and the record business is bad. I used to sell six, seven or eight thousand drum books on top of two hundred thousand records. Now, I sell more drum books than records! I released Carmine Appice’s (“Guitar Zeuss”) “Conquering Heroes” double album back in 2009. I had tons of great guitarists on that album with Ted Nugent, Brian May and Mick Mars, for example. Only two thousand units were sold here! Fifty thousand were sold in Europe and forty thousand sold in Japan. A little over one hundred thousand units sold! Business is down.

HRH: King Kobra is such a good times album. Was this all intentional or did it just fall into place this way?

CARMINE: All the positive themes like, “I’m number one”, “don’t get left behind” and “let’s party!” have always been our way with songs. All the songs are about good times. I compare this album to the first King Kobra album (“Ready To Strike”) with it’s energy. “Tear Down The Walls” is a political song. The concept behind “You Make It Easy” is about making a phone call and you’re put on hold by customer service or some Spanish message. So, originally this song was called “It Ain’t Easy”. (laughs).

HRH: (laughs) That’s funny, Carmine.

CARMINE: (laughs) You know how it is, you’re pushing all these prompts all the time to get some service and you’re thinking please make it easy! (laughs). There are lot’s of stuff going on in this song.

HRH: (laughs). I hear you, about waiting on the line for service from a human being!

CARMINE: In comparison to the second album, (“Thrill Of A Lifetime”), the label made us do five singles on one side of that album. The other side was our songs.

HRH: “Live Forever” is my personal favorite on the new album. Is there a story behind this song you can share?

CARMINE: If Bon Jovi did “Live Forever” it would be a number one single!

HRH: I feel “Live Forever” would have been a number one single or at least a top ten single for you back in the late 80’s.

CARMINE: I Want to send this single to Richie Sambora after this album is released and get it in the Bon Jovi camp. Let’s see what happens! (laughs). I guess I’m dreaming right?

HRH: Not really, Carmine. The Bon Jovi camp should be honored you would even take the time to send them over a song.

Marc Storace: We surely did not reunite in 2008 and carefully planned our comeback just to stop now! We enjoyed three extremely successful and productive years with exciting live shows and our new platinum CD “Hoodoo”. This isn’t the beginning of the end for the rest of us. We have so much more planned for the future. We are in charge of our destiny and we will decide when the final curtain call will come. It will be with a big bang and fireworks. But that’s years away from now!
What are KROKUS’ plans for this year?

Marc Storace: We just started with the songwriting for our next album and as a creative balance some of us allow ourselves some time on our own to pursue other interests. Chris Von Rohr is writing another book and moderates in Switzerland a new TV show called “Tonspur”, Fernando Von Arb plays for fun some gigs with his cover band and I am part of “Rock Circus” that tours across Switzerland. However, for all of us KROKUS always will be top priority!
What caused drummer Freddy Steady to leave the band?

Fernando Von Arb: The split was not of personal nature but solely a professional decision. Freddy concluded that he really wanted to play music just for fun in small clubs rather than conquering the world, playing arenas on huge stages with pyro-props etc. We wish him all the best for his future. KROKUS was always known to play large venues worldwide. When we get together, compose new songs and play them live we always think big – with a vision on an international level. That sets us apart from many other Swiss bands. Our albums are sold worldwide; then and now.

Mark Kohler: Despite Freddy’s surprising departure, we will take advantage of the positive vibes the rest of the band feels and focus to deliver a hammer album beginning of 2013!
However, without a drummer there is not much “rock’n’roll”. Have you already found a replacement for Freddy?

Chris Von Rohr: No. However, we haven’t looked so far either!
What do you look for in your new drummer?

Chris Von Rohr: With our 3-chord music style three things are of utmost importance: groove, drive and push/thrust forward. Like AC/DC, we are one of the few bands that deliver meticulously this alleged simple but never uninteresting brand of music. We definitely are not looking for a metal drummer. The whole groove has to do with feeling, kick and routine. For sure it has to be a top notch professional that has the ability to give us rock druids a kick in the ass and a run for the money. An aggressor in a musical way.
What else is driving force to push KROKUS even more forward?

Chris Von Rohr: The constant search for the even better song than anyone before, the better album than any previous one and the hottest live-set – that’s what pushes us continuously forward.
KROKUS is getting close to their 40th anniversary. No slowing down, no thoughts of quitting all together?

Marc Storace: To the contrary, we’re just getting warmed up! We can promise this to our fan base worldwide: When KROKUS announce the final countdown, it will be with fireworks and power music.

Chris Von Rohr: Only the Gods of Rock & Health know when that will be. We are full of energy and have a massive desire to rock and we will do this again very soon!
What does that mean specifically?

Marc Storace: We have various offers to play international festivals. Almost certain is a gig at the biggest Japanese rock festival with Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica. Regardless of the possible nuclear threats we’ll fly there. We are highly motivated. After all, we are one of the few Swiss rock bands that really deliver on the international market!

Chris Von Rohr: We want to finish the possibly last round with power, pride and gratification. That has nothing to do with money or anything else. Simply joy to play our style of music and the feeling we get at live shows when we pull the trigger – Long stick goes boom!!!